Andrew Bevan treks to Sweden for a little shopping, a bit of skateboarding, and a quick lesson on Scandinavian street style.

My affection for skateboarding culture began when I was a preppy preteen desperate to trade in my penny loafers and cable knits for a pair of skate shoes and a ringer tee. Alas, the transformation didn't happen overnight.

Most iconic skatewear labels spawned from the sun-soaked beaches and boardwalks of Southern California, but one of the coolest lines, WESC (We Are Superlative Conspiracy), stands out because of its Swedish origins. Though the Scandinavian country sports more flaxen-haired residents than even Orange County does, it's known more for its meatballs and music (ABBA, anyone?) than for being a skate mecca.

On a recent trip to Stockholm, my very non-preteen self turned away from the catwalk to hit the sidewalk for an afternoon of skateboarding with professional skateboarder and WESC brand ambassador (WeActivist) Mika Edin. "It's much easier to skate in Sweden than it is in America. Here you can do it almost everywhere," Mika told me, as we toured the city. "In the U.S., you usually get kicked out by a security guard."

After a few rusty tumbles and a lot of instruction from my new teacher, I was up and rolling and headed to the WESC store to peruse the racks of playful pieces, which included yellow skinny jeans and a collection of limited-edition T-shirts and headphones designed by buzzworthy artists.

Barely bruised, I bid adieu to my skate mentor to meet up with WESC model Signe Siemsen for a little people watching. After all, the city's street style has gained worldwide attention for its clean, preppy-meets-rock aesthetic. "Everyone looks so incredibly good by not overthinking or trying too hard," said Signe, a native Swede. "When I go abroad or just out of Stockholm, it's not the same, and I'm shocked." I couldn't help but notice how well edited and fashion shoot-ready the passersby were--as if they were following Coco Chanel's golden rule of taking off at least one accessory before leaving the house so as to not overdo an outfit. I also learned that cable knits and penny loafers can indeed be rad if you mix them with studded belts and ripped jeans. My twelve-year-old self would totally approve.